In short:

A high number of informal votes in a rural NSW electorate with a record number of candidates has been labelled "shameful" by the region's MP.

By May 6 more than 11,000 informal votes had been recorded in the Riverina electorate, accounting for more than 10 per cent of the voter turnout.

What's next?

Riverina MP Michael McCormack and political scientist Dominic O'Sullivan say the voting system should be reformed.

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[–] MisterFrog@aussie.zone 3 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Wait NSW uses first past the post in state and local elections?

A search later: it's preferential, but optionally so. https://elections.nsw.gov.au/candidate-handbook-nsw-state-by-elections/counting-and-results/legislative-assembly-voting-and-counting/examples-of-ballot-papers

I dunno if I'm a fan of less than 5 preferences being mandatory.

We must resist first past the post voting at all costs.

[–] zero_gravitas@aussie.zone 3 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (1 children)

Agreed. If there's any confusion among voters, I reckon it's largely due to NSW's optional-preferential ballots being inconsistent with the federal ballots. NSW should change to mandatory-preferential for the sake of consistency - and because it's better - but the major parties benefit from the optional.

[–] MisterFrog@aussie.zone 3 points 1 day ago

Yeah I agree, it's definitely on NSW to reform, not everyone else...